1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to community development; providing training 
  1.3             for certain public assistance recipients; 
  1.4             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.5             section 268A.15, subdivisions 2, 6, and by adding a 
  1.6             subdivision. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268A.15, is 
  1.9   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 1a.  [SEVERE DYSFUNCTION; DEFINITION.] For the 
  1.11  purpose of this section, "severe dysfunction" means an extended 
  1.12  history of public assistance, little or no employment history, 
  1.13  and physical, intellectual, or emotional characteristics 
  1.14  seriously impairing future ability to obtain and retain 
  1.15  permanent employment. 
  1.16     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268A.15, 
  1.17  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.18     Subd. 2.  [PURPOSE.] The purpose of the extended employment 
  1.19  program is to provide the ongoing services necessary to maintain 
  1.20  and advance the employment of persons with severe 
  1.21  disabilities or severe dysfunction.  Employment under this 
  1.22  section must encompass the broad range of employment choices 
  1.23  available to all persons and promote an individual's 
  1.24  self-sufficiency and financial independence.  
  1.25     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 268A.15, 
  1.26  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  2.1      Subd. 6.  [GRANTS.] The commissioner may provide innovation 
  2.2   and expansion grants to rehabilitation facilities to encourage 
  2.3   the development, demonstration, or dissemination of innovative 
  2.4   business practices, training programs, and service delivery 
  2.5   methods that: 
  2.6      (1) expand and improve employment opportunities for persons 
  2.7   with severe disabilities or severe dysfunction who are unserved 
  2.8   or underserved by the extended employment program; and 
  2.9      (2) increase the ability of persons with severe 
  2.10  disabilities or severe dysfunction to use new and emerging 
  2.11  technologies in employment settings, and foster the capacity of 
  2.12  rehabilitation facilities and employers to promote the 
  2.13  integration of individuals with severe disabilities into the 
  2.14  workplace and the mainstream of community life. 
  2.15     The grants must require collaboration at the local level 
  2.16  among vocational rehabilitation field offices, county social 
  2.17  service and planning agencies, rehabilitation facilities, and 
  2.18  employers.  
  2.19     Sec. 4.  [WELFARE TO WORK; HARD TO PLACE.] 
  2.20     The county agency must consider placing an individual on 
  2.21  welfare who has a severe dysfunction, as defined in Minnesota 
  2.22  Statutes, section 268A.15, subdivision 1a, into an extended 
  2.23  employment program under section 268A.15 for job skills training 
  2.24  or a job, or both, as part of the effort to move people from 
  2.25  welfare to work as required under federal welfare reform. 
  2.26     Sec. 5.  [APPROPRIATION; EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.] 
  2.27     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.28  commissioner of economic security for the extended employment 
  2.29  program under Minnesota Statutes, section 268A.15, for the 
  2.30  purpose of providing services to people with severe dysfunction 
  2.31  as defined in section 268A.15, subdivision 1a.